range question

I am using a CrimeGuard alarm/entry. I note that the antenna lead is about seven feet long. This lead is coaxial, and the last seven or eight inches has the braid removed. Is the active antenna comprised of just the exposed inner conductor? (8 inches)Also, I stuffed this eight inch section in a plastic soda straw, to keep it straight, and pushed it up the pillar between driver and passenger door. Range is about 25 feet! This is adequate, unless I want to check lock from inside my house. Should I relocate antenna to under dash? I do not see an easy way on my 2002 Corolla to get it up into the front pillar.Maybe someone should write a book on this topic. It is bound to be a best seller!Thanks,Jerry Siemens

Jeff,Thanks for the reply. After seeing your answer, I realized I did not correctly describe what I did. I actually mounted the antenna between the front and rear door, in the pillar. This would expose it to metal on one side, and plastic on the other. It obviously is a poor choice.I still am wondering if the entire eight feet has to be straigntened out, or is the last eight inches the actual "antenna". A call to Crutchfield was no help.Lets start from square one, if you could. The car is a 2002 Corolla. I did not readily see an easy way to get the front door pillar trim removed. If I ever do gain access, does one snake the lead up the pillar, and then actually exit the pillar to expose the antenna so that it can be seen?This not life threatening, but I would sure like to do it right. My alternate is to keep trying different locations until range inproves. When I first did the install, by the way, I had the entire seven feet of lead lying across the front seat, and range was probably 200 to 300 feet. The CrimeGuard unit is not a powerhouse, I suspect, but was hoping for 100 feet, or so.No matter what, I really do appreciate your support!Than

Jeff,I appreciate your advice; but took the easy way out! I simply duct-taped (what else!!) the antenna to the underside of the plastic dashboard, up high. Works great...minimum 250 feet and that is enough for security/remote entry. If it were remote start, I would take the effort to us the windshield approach.Thanks for your timeJerry